Float operating inlet control valve



March 1953 J. J. ALBRIGHT, JR 2,631,502

FLOAT OPERATING INLET CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 15, 1949 HTTQRNEYS Patented Mar. 17, 1953 FLOAT OPERATING INLET CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM John J. Albright, Jr., Syracuse, N. Y.

Application December 15, 1949, Serial No. 133,080

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-418) This invention relates to float operated inlet valves for tanks having a dump valve controlled outlet as, for one instance, the inlet valve of the tank of a flush toilet mechanism.

It has for its object a float operated lock acting on the float lever of the float valve mechanism, which look is normally unlocked when the tank is full to a normal high level, to permit opening of the inlet valve as the water runs out of the outlet of the tank, and moves to locked position when the tank empties, and is shifted to unlocked position by the action of the float of the look when the water reaches a predetermined high level in the tank, so that the float lever is locked down and remains submerged until the high water level is reached and hence the valve is closed quickly, or with something of a snap action by the quick rising of the float lever when released, instead of gradually closing, as heretofore, as the float lever rises on the surface of the water in the tank as the water fills into the tank.

The delay of the opening of the inlet valve, that is the causing of the valve to close with something of a snap action, shortens the time'it takes to fill the tank and eliminates the excessive noise now present in flush toilet mechanisms due to the gradual closing of the inlet valve under the action of the usual float lever as it rises on the surface of the water filling into the tank. The snap action closing also reduces the wear which causes leakage of the valve due to the gradual closing.

Although the invention is shown as embodied in the tank of a flush toilet, it is applicable to control the flowing of water or liquid into tanks in other situations.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions herelnafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the Views.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one embodiment of the invention, the tank being also shown.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the mechanism with the tank omitted but in addition showing a float operated lock in the bottom of the tank which holds the main float operated lever from dropping as the liquid recedes, until the water falls below the level of the float of the second look.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing the second lock in its operated position wherein it is holding the main float operated lever from dropping.

In the drawing, 1 designates the tank having an outlet 2 to the point of delivery of the water, the outlet being controlled by the usual dump valve 3, which is usually, although not necessarily, manually operated.

l designates a support for the inlet valve mechanism, this being shown as a unitary structure including a valve easing 5 mounted on the upper end of a support and having a self-opening valve 6 therein which is operated by the usual float operated lever l to closed position when the high level is reached in the tank. The support a is shown as including the inlet pipe for the water.

The float lever l is here shown as fulcrumed at 8 to an upright member 9 carried by the valve casing 5, the lever 1 having a short arm I5 which coacts with a motion transmitting lever ll fulcrumed at l2 to a bracket on the valve casing and coactlng at I3 with the valve stem It. The construction of the valve mechanism thus far described is standard and per se forms no part of this invention.

The invention relates to the lock, or locks, to be described acting on the float lever l to hold it from closing the inlet valve 6 gradually as the water rises in the tank through the open inlet valve but causing the valve to close suddenly.

l5 designates a float operated lock which is moved to locked position during the flowing out of the water from high level from the tank. During the flowing out of the water, the float 1 drops to its lowermost position opening the inlet valve 6 and is'locked by the lock IS in its lowermost position. When the dump valve 3 closes, the water rises in the tank until it picks up the float ll of the lock 15 and unlocks the lock l5, permitting the float lever, which is now submerged, to rise suddenly and close the inlet valve 6. The float ll is located in thetop of the tank. Hence, the closing of the inlet valve is delayed until the tank is filled to the normal high level. The lock 15 is provided with an arm it having the float ll thereon.

As here shown, the lock l5 consists of a toggle comprising two links [8 and I9 pivoted together at 20 by a stop joint and pivoted at their outer ends respectively at 2| to the upright support 9, and at 22 to the float operated lever I. When the water recedes in the tank, the float I'l drops and straightens the toggle links l8, l9, from folded position, thus permitting the float lever l to drop with the receding water and open the inlet valve 6. When the water rises in the tank, after the dump valve 3 is closed, the float operated lever 1 is locked in its lower position assumed when the inlet valve is open, by the straightened toggle links until the water reaches a level wherein it picks up the float ii and moves the toggle links l8, l9 to folded position.

In the form shown in Figures 2 and 3, there is not only the look IE, but also a second float operated lock 25 having its float 26 located in the lower portion or near the bottom of the tank. This second lock normally locks the main float lever I in its elevatedposition until'the water recedes below the level of the float 28 when the float operated lever 1 drops suddenly to the bottom of the tank where it is lockedfrom'rising on the incoming waterby the upper float operated lock I5. As the water rises in the tank, the second operated float lock 25 acts-on'the float lever and tends to lift it and move it to valve closing position. It is restrained from doing so however until a high level is reached in the tank suiflcient-toelevate thefloat l! of the upper lock i and break the toggle-of theupper lock l5, permitting the-float operated lever T to return quickly to its elevated positionon the surface of the Water.

--In -the operation' of the forms shown in Figures 2"and 3, the-float lever remains in its elevated position unti1 the-water recedes in the tank, not only a sufficient amount to unlock the upper lock I5, but also until the water recedes far enough to release the float 26 of the lower lock 25. The lower 1ock'2'5 is also a toggle consisting of toggle links-27 and 28 pivoted together at 29 by a stop joint and at their outer ends respectivelyat 3D tothe lever I, and at'3i to a bracket 32 carried bythe valve casing. In'either form-of the invention, the closing of the inlet valve by the float lever 7 is delayed until the water has "risen'to a high level in the tank.

In-the form shown in Figure 1, thefloat lever rides down on the surface of the water-as the waterrecedes and is locked down by the upper lock until the water reaches the" normal" high level. In the-form-shownin Figures 2 and 3, the float lever l is locked in its'upper position by the lock until 'thewaterrecedes until it uncovers thefloat-Et of'the lower-lock 25. "Now, however, the float lever-1' is' locked 'down'by the upper lock 15 until the water fillsinto the tank in the normal high to'float the floatl'l and unlock the upper lock.

What'l" claim is:

1. A float operated inlet control valve mechanism of the class'described for tanks'ha'vinga valve'c'ontrolled inlet, which mechanism comprises a casing and support mountable "in the tank, a self opening 'valvein'thecas'ing and a float operated lever acting on the'valve to close it when a predetermined water level is reached; said'mech'anis'm being characterized" by a float operated lockcomprising a'pair of togg'lelinks pivotedtogetlier at their inner' ends and-pivoted at"'tlieir"outer'ends respectively to the valve.cas

ing support and the-float lever, and movable by the lock float out of dead center locked position of the toggle links by the high level of the fluid in the tank, and being movable into dead center locked position by the lowering of the float of the toggle lock under the recession of the water from the tank.

2. A float operated inlet control valve mechanism of the class described for tanks having a valve controlled inlet, which fmechanisin comprises a casing and support mountable in the tank, a self opening valve in the casing and a float operated lever acting on the valve to close it-When a predetermined water level is reached; sa-id mechanism being characterized by a float operated lock acting on the float operated lever t'o l'ock' it inits position assumed when the valve isopen, the float of the lock being locatable in position to unlock the look when the water level reaches "apredetermined height in the tank, a second float operated lock having its float located in-the lower portion of the-tank and coacting with the float lever to'normally hold it from recession with the water in'the tank, and movable to unlocked position "by the recession of'the water in the tank toa'low level, and to locked position by the rising of the float of the second look as the water rises in the tank.

3. A float operated inlet control valve mechanism of the class described for tanks having a valve controlled inlet, which'mechanism' comprises'a casing andsupport mountable in the tank, a self opening valve in the casing and'a float operated lever acting on the valve to close it when a predetermined water level is reached;

0 said mechanism being characterized by a float operated lock comprising a pair'of "toggle links pivoted together at their inner ends andpivoted at their outer ends respectivelytothe' valve casing support and the float lever, and movable by the lock float out of dead center locked position of the toggle links by the high level'of the fluid in the tank, and being movable into dead center locked position by the lowering of 'thefloat'of the toggle lock under the recession of" the Water from the tank,'a secondfloatoperated lock having its float located in the lower portion of the tank and comprising a pair oftoggle links'pivote'd together at their innerends an'd'at their "outer ends pivoted to said float leverand to the'valve casing support, and movable "out of'de'a'dcenter position upon the'rece'ssion of lthe'wa'ter in the tank andto' locked position'upon'the rising of the water in the tank.

JOHN J. ALBRIGHT, 'JR.

-REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 565,881 Closson g "Au'g. 18, 1896 974,925 FSchulte Nov. 8,1910 1,115,584 Schmitz Nov. "3, 1914 1,263,699 P001 Apr. 23, 1918 2,504,022 -Hohner Apr.'11,' 1950 

